Gun rights supporters: Tear down this wall

The second anti-SAFE Act rally is in full swing at the state Capitol and while the number of gun rights supporters isn’t as large as the first event there was no lack of enthusiasm or provocative signs alternately comparing the law’s champion, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to one of the Three Stooges, a dictator, or monarch from the middle ages.

One of the speakers, Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli (lots of sheriffs oppose the law saying it’s unworkable) evoked Ronald Reagan, getting participants to chant “Tear down this wall.”

Following the rally, participants were set to bring a stack of petition cards against the SAFE Act to the Governor’s chambers in the state Capitol. They said they would continue delivering petitions until the end of the legislative session.

There were a couple of comments here and there about watching out for the grass — following the earlier rally, held in a freezing rain, caused a re-seeding of the grass, which sparked its own small war of words. It’s been raining heavily here for the past two days, although it was just cloudy and damp when I went to check on the rally and the seeded areas were fenced off.

The event may not have drawn the media attention of the earlier SAFE Act rally as there was a plethora of other demonstrations taking place at the Capitol, this being the next to last Tuesday — Lobby Day — before the end of session.

Members of union backed groups are here demonstrating against the governor’s proposed Tax Free zones, red-shirted AARP members are out in force, and a contingent of Vocal NY members all are prowling the premises.